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Area Development - Site Selection, Facility Planning and Workforce Development

Ford Invests $555 Million In Flat Rock, Michigan, Plant Adding 1,200 Jobs

09/11/2012
Ford Motor Company Ford is investing $555 million to add a second production line and upgrade its at Flat Rock, Michigan, assembly plant to manufacture its 2013 Ford Fusion, as well as its iconic Mustang, adding 1,200 jobs.

Ford said it will also take full management control of the former AutoAlliance International plant, and upgrade the Flat Rock Assembly Plant to feature a state-of-the-art, fully flexible body shop and an environmentally friendly paint shop. The plant will continue to be owned by a joint venture that is split 50-50 between Ford and Mazda Motor Corp.

"The new Flat Rock Assembly Plant symbolizes the growth driven by our One Ford plan," said Mark Fields, Ford president of The Americas. "Ford continues investing in people, products and plants to deliver the head-turning, fuel-efficient, fun-to-drive vehicles people really want, including the all-new Fusion."

Following the end of Mazda6 production last month, the plant will continue to produce the Mustang before adding Fusion next year. Flat Rock Assembly will be the U.S. producer of Fusion, employing a total of 2,900 workers on both vehicle lines.

In addition to adding 1,200 new hourly jobs tied to Fusion production, Ford also is investing $555 million to equip a new state-of-the-art body and paint shop capable of producing multiple vehicles. With each new major plant program, Ford is significantly increasing the flexibility of its equipment and facilities to build multiple vehicles at one location, the firm said. By 2015, Ford will be able to produce 25 percent more derivatives per plant versus 2011 on a global basis.

"By fully incorporating Flat Rock Assembly into our manufacturing system, we are able to take advantage of internal efficiencies that will streamline our ability to produce vehicles," said Jim Tetreault, Ford vice president of North America Manufacturing. "This is critical as we increase our capacity to meet growing customer demand for our products."

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